44 Home at Last

Even though I was finally home and able to relax, Dante still demanded I come over and train. He did allow me two days to recuperate considering the trouble I managed to get into while on the trip.

Usually, I would spend the days laying in bed, but I felt the need to run around. Perhaps I just wanted to enjoy the warm weather. It felt nice not to be freezing nonstop.

I spent the days off bugging Lona while also running away from my father's accusatory stare. I know there was no way he could have known what happened between me and Dante, yet he can be so perceptive. He knew something happened and wanted to figure it out. I had to keep reminding myself to stay alert around him.

The last thing I wanted to do was blurt out that Dante had seen me naked in the most embarrassing way. This wasn't because I wanted to protect him, but because I couldn't allow myself to admit I had been in such a situation.

I woke up the following day to Lona opening my curtains. My eyes started to sting at the light pouring in. I sat up and rubbed my head to calm down the sudden pain.

Lona looked at me, "Oh good. You're up. I was wondering when you would finally wake up."

"What time is it?" My voice came out raspier than usual. I rubbed it to soothe it.

"It's time for lunch. We will be leaving to visit Prince William and Dante afterwards."

I nodded. I started to stand up and my head felt heavier than usual. It caused me to sway slightly. I rubbed it some more to placate it. These past few days my body has been feeling crummier than usual.

I knew I was getting sick, but I tried to ignore it. In my other world, if I ever got sick I would just work through it. The last thing I've ever wanted is to be forced to stay in bed or be babied.

I felt a sudden urge to sneeze. I held it back and tried to ignore it, but it was impossible. "Achoo!"

Lona immediately looked at me, "What was that?"

I smiled at her, "Oh nothing. Why?"

"It sounded like a sneeze."

"It wasn't."

She raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure?"

I nodded and smiled, "Of course! Have I ever lied to you?"

Her curious look turned to a scowl. I quickly walked out of the room before she had the chance to question me more.

I sat at the table where my father was already waiting for me. He stared at me with such seriousness I knew that it was going to be that kind of a day.

He spoke calmly, "So.. You're going over to Queen Luna's?"

I nodded, "Yes. They were nice enough to let me take a few days off of training. But it's time for me to go back before I get too weak."

"Hmm..."

I forced a smile. It has been like this ever since I got back.

He spoke again, "Are you excited to go back there?"

Oh hell no. Training with Dante is like having barbeque with the devil. It sounds good until you find out that you're the one that's to be barbequed. However, I didn't want him to know this.

I smiled, "Of course! I love training. I'm going to grow up big and strong to protect everyone I love! Just like Daddy!"

Ugh. Talking like this gives me such a stomachache.

He chuckled happy by this. However, his face became serious in an instant. "Those boys didn't do anything to you on your trip right?"

My smile twitched, "Like what Daddy?"

"Like anything bad."

I shook my head, "Nope! They were very nice. They never did anything bad."

"Really?"

"Really really."

Even as I ate, my father began to question me. It was one of the few times I hoped I could hurry over to their house.

I forced a piece of food down and felt as though my throat was sandpaper. I quickly grabbed my glass of water and chugged it down. Even after drinking so much, I was still parched. I rubbed my head once more.

My father looked at me in concern, "Are you alright?"

No! You're causing me too much stress!

I smiled, "Of course I am Daddy!"

He looked uncertain, "Alright..."

I hurried up to finish my meal and waved goodbye to my father. I rushed over to Lona and we quickly left the house.

I was laying on her lap happily when she asked me a question, "What else happened on your trip?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Well... Firstly, you lost your tooth skiing."

"Uhm. Yes."

"Then you lost your other tooth because you stuck half of your body out of a moving carriage. Even though I told you many times to not do that."

I forced a smile, "But I like fresh air."

"What's worse is that you charmed animals into attacking the Prince."

"It wasn't animals! It was just one deer. And it didn't hurt him or anything. Dante was there to save him."

She continued ignoring me, "Then, you ignore the teachers warnings and go on a lake you weren't supposed to, which could have killed you."

"Lonaaaa. I've already told you. I had to save my hat. It was the winds fault."

"And yet, knowing all of this, why do I feel like you are stilling hiding something?"

My face twitch, "I don't know what you mean."

"I'm sure you do. Although I'm frightened to find out what you're hiding. I can't imagine anything worse."

Oh, trust me. It's much worse.

"Relax Lona. I behaved myself as promised."

"Behaved? That was you behaved?"

"Ahh. Are you ever going to let this go?"

"Are you ever going to stop getting involved in trouble?"

"I told you! I don't look for trouble, it looks for me."

Lona sighed and decided it wouldn't do any good to keep arguing. As I sat there I felt my eyes grow heavy. I found myself falling asleep.

When I woke up, we had just arrived at Williams and Dante's house. I forced myself to sit up and groaned from the effort.

Why does my body feel so awful? I thought it would have past by now, but it seems like it won't.

Lona looked at me in concern, "Young miss. You don't look good. Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"Yes. Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

I stepped out of the carriage and walked over to where William and Dante were waiting. William sat in the shade reading a book and didn't even bother to look up at me. Dante was already practicing with such a serious expression. Sometimes I envy their dedication.

Dante noticed me and handed me a practice sword. He still didn't trust me to use an actual one yet. I didn't blame him.

Occasionally I would try to practice juggling fake knives around like some sort of sideshow act, but they would always smack my face. I wasn't very good at handling sharp objects and as such they didn't trust me with them.

While I sparred with Dante, I found it was harder to keep up with him. It wasn't because he was being more difficult, but because my body just couldn't keep up. I fell down on my backside and groaned.

Dante looked down at me with a serious face, "What's wrong with you today? Usually you are bad, but you're not THIS bad."

I smiled mockingly, "Wow, thanks for the encouragement Dante."

He helped me stand up and I started brushing off my clothes. My legs began to shake under my weight. It's almost embarrassing how weak I've become.

I went for my wooden sword and felt my throat start to itch. I quickly grabbed it and started rubbing it to stop it from the inevitable. I held my breath and willed it to calm down.

Dante looked shocked by this, "Your face is turning red. What are you doing?"

William had already looked over due to the commotion. He spoke, "It looks like she's strangling herself."

No you idiot! I'm trying not to cough!

Dante glanced at William and considered this. He looked at me, "Why are you strangling yourself?"

I'm not you stupid children! I'm trying to refrain from-

*Coughcoughcoughcough*

Unable to handle it anymore I broke down into a violent cough. Even though I tried to stop it, it was like a domino effect. Now I could no longer stop coughing and I felt myself gasping for breath between each burst.

I could hear Dante's cold voice sound surprisingly worried, "Seri! What's wrong?!"

I fell to my knees as my vision slowly began to grow dark. I collapsed on the ground and felt my vision grow dark.

D*mnit all. This was exactly what I was trying to avoid.

As I passed out into unconsciousness, Dante shook my body. "Seri! Seri! Can you hear me?" He looked over to Lona in a panic and shouted, "Lona! I need help!"

William ran over when he noticed I had collapsed. Lona looked up at the commotion and saw their frightened looks. She quickly joined them trying to remain calm. They flipped me over and she felt my forehead.

Her eyebrows scrunched together, "She's burning up. We need to get her to a doctor."

William shook in fear as he looked at my limp body, "Is she going to be okay?"

She picked me up and looked at William, "Go and tell your mother to get a doctor. Tell them to meet us at our house."

William looked at her still shaking. His eyes were huge with worry and concern. He was so frightened at seeing the strong willed girl collapse.

Dante grabbed onto him, "Come on! Now's not the time to freak out. We need to go get help."

He forced himself to nod his head and stand up. He ran off with Dante as Lona rushed to the carriage.

As the carriage sped home, she brushed my hair. I let out some whimpers still not fully conscious. She spoke in a gentle voice, "It's alright. We are almost back. It's going to be alright."

A single tear rolled down her cheek. She muttered to herself, "You idiot girl. Why didn't you tell me? No. I should have known. You weren't letting me get close to you since you've been back. Have you really felt ill this entire time? How could you not say anything?"

However, her questions went unanswered. When we had arrived at the house I could recall opening my eyes, but everything was a blur.

When I opened my eyes next, I couldn't see who the person next to me was, but their presence was gentle. I could feel their warmth as they held my hand. I relaxed in this presence and recognized why I felt so safe.

I tightened my hand around theirs and murmured, "Mama."